Top-10 Three-Point Shooters Overshadowed by Steph Curry

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry is one of the best three-point shooters in NBA history. He’s led the league in three-point field goals made every season since 2012/2013. Curry has finished top-10 in three-point field goal percentage seven times in his nine seasons. And at the age of 29, Curry is already No. 8 all-time in threes made (2075). This dominance has come to define an age of NBA basketball that will forever be characterized by three-point shooting.

So what players has Steph Curry’s dominance from behind the arc outshone over the last five years? Here’s a look at the top-10 three-point shooters overshadowed by Steph Curry.

No. 10 Wesley Matthews

Wesley Matthews Getty Images

Matthews is one of the most overlooked shooters in recent years. Despite being mired in a losing season with the Dallas Mavericks, Matthews has been one of the most consistent three-point shooters in the league over the last few years.

Since the 2013/2014 season, Matthews has finished in the top-20 in three-pointers made each year, with his best finish at No. 5 overall with 201 threes in 13/14. During his career, Matthews has hit 38 percent of shots from behind the arc and he’s the quintessential Three-and-D player.

In the league since 2009, Matthews is No. 33 all-time (1374; tied with Kevin Durant at the time of publication). He briefly held the all-time mark for the Portland Trailblazers franchise, taking Terry Porter’s spot, but he’s since been passed on that list by Damian Lillard.

No. 9 Lou Williams

Lou Williams Photo Credit: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images.

It’s rare that a player has his best season in his 13th year in the league, but that’s exactly what’s happening with former Sixth-Man of the Year Sweet Lou. Rising from a second-round pick in 2005 being relegated to the D-league, Williams won player-of-the-week honors twice in January of 2018. He dropped 50-points, and a career-high eight threes, on Steph Curry and the Warriors in January.

Williams defines the term journeyman, as he’s playing for his fifth team in the last five season. His 142 threes this season are 7th-most so far. In 14/15, Williams hit 152 (15th-most) for the Toronto Raptors. A latter-day Vinnie “Microwave” Johnson, Williams three-point shooting prowess over the years has made him one of the league’s most exciting players to watch.

No. 8 Bradley Beal

Bradley Beal Photo Credit: Ned Dishman/NBAE/Getty Images

Drafted No. 3 overall by the Washington Wizards in the 2012 NBA Draft, Bradley Beal has been one of the up-and-coming talents in the league since. Named to his first All-Star team this season, Beal is one of the most feared three-point shooters in the league.

Beal’s 126 threes this season are 14th-most so far. He’s finished in the top-20 twice in the last four seasons, and top-10 in three-point field goal percentage once. Beal is averaging a career-high 23.9 points-per-game this season, and has made over 40 percent of his threes in the three of the last four seasons.

No. 7 Damian Lillard

Damian Lillard Photo Credit: Steve Dykes/AP.

It’s hard to call a three-time All-Star overshadowed, but being the Western Conference with Steph Curry (as well as Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and Chris Paul) has kept Dame on the periphery. Drafted No. 6 overall in 2012 by Portland (with a pick acquired from New Jersey for Gerald Wallace of all people), Dame netted the 12/13 Rookie of the Year award. Since, he’s been one of the most prolific three-point shooters in the league.

Lillard has finished in the top-10 in three-pointers made each of the last five season, finishing with the third-most threes in 13/14 (218). He’s made 37 percent of his three-point attempts, and his 1171 career threes are good for No. 61 all-time. Barring injury, Dame should finish the season top-50 all-time.

No. 6 Paul George

Paul George Photo Credit: Tony Dejak/AP

Paul George is no stranger to headlines in his career, particularly after the blockbuster trade that sent him from Indiana to Oklahoma City this offseason. The five-time all-star has become one of the best second options in the league playing alongside MVP Russell Westbrook.

George’s ability as a three-point shooter has markedly improved throughout his career. In the three seasons since his catastrophic leg injury, George has found himself in the top-12 of three-point field goals made. His 157 threes this season are 4th-most so far, and his 42 percent clip is 17th-best.

Paul George will participate in the Three-Point Contest for the second time in his career. And he, not Reggie Miller, holds the Indiana Pacers franchise mark for most threes in a game.

No. 5 Eric Gordon

Eric Gordon Photo Credit: Scott Threlkeld

Eric Gordon will defend his Three-Point Contest championship this All-Star break, and he’s a key cog in the three-point assault of the Houston Rockets. Gordon is also the defending Sixth-Man of the Year, a season during which he made a career-high 246 threes (4th-most in the league).

Gordon has played with the Clippers, Hornets/Pelicans, and Rockets since being drafted No. 7 overall in 2008. He was a main component in the Chris Paul trade back in 2011. He finished No. 2 in the league in three-point percentage in 14/15. His 146 threes this season are sixth-most so far.

No. 4 Kyle Korver

Kyle Korver Photo Credit: Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

In his 15th season, Korver remains one of the most prolific three-point shooters in league history. He’s No. 4 all-time in threes made (2161), behind Jason Terry (2249), Reggie Miller (2560), and Ray Allen (2973). He’s finished top-10 in threes made five times in his career. He’s finished top-10 in three-point percentage on seven occasions, including leading the league four times.

Korver has made over 700 threes over the last five seasons, including the third-most in 14/15 (221). He’s led the league in three-point percentage three out of the last four seasons. His current 43 percent clip is 13th-best so far.

No. 3 J.J. Redick

J.J. Redick Photo Credit: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

Drafted No. 11 overall by the Orlando Magic in 2006, J.J. Redick has made the 35th-most threes (1372) in NBA history. Redick came into the league after a stellar career at Duke University, and has since played with the Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, LA Clippers, and Philadelphia 76ers. He’s finished in the top-10 in three-pointers made each of the last three seasons.

Redick has also finished top-5 in three-point percentage in each of the last three seasons, including No. 1 in 15/16 (47.5 percent). Redick has netted at least 200 threes in each of the last three seasons and remains one of the most productive three-point shooters in the league.

No. 2 C.J. McCollum

C.J. McCollum Photo Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer/AP

Since winning the league’s Most Improved Player award in 15/16, C.J. McCollum has been one of the best three-point shooters in the league, despite arguably not being the best shooter on his team. C.J. has not only been overshadowed by Steph Curry, but also Dame Lillard. McCollum’s emergence continues this season, and he scored 50 points in under 30 minutes last week.

McCollum has finished in the top-20 in threes made and three-point percentage each of the last two seasons, and is on pace to do so again in 17/18. His 128 threes made this season are 12th-most so far, and he could eclipse the 200-made mark this season.

No. 1 Klay Thompson

Klay Thompson Photo Credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Perhaps the most overshadowed three-point shooter over the last several years is Steph Curry’s teammate, the other Splash Brother, Klay Thompson. Drafted by the Warriors 11th overall in 2011, Thompson has finished top-3 in three-point field goals made every season since 12/13. Thompson has finished top-10 in three-point percentage in each of the last five seasons.

Thompson is No. 28 all-time in threes made (1496), and scored 60 points in 29 minutes in 2016. Klay won the Three-Point Contest in 2015, defeating his teammate Steph Curry in the process. Thompson has finished second to Curry in each of the last four seasons in three-pointers made. This season, though, Thompson has made 10 more threes than Curry.